Politics
Trade Centre Roundabout Project and Al Safa Street Tunnel Advance Under Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan for Downtown Dubai
Downtown Dubai residents will see changes to travel times around the Trade Centre Roundabout and access to City Walk as the RTA implements upgrades listed in its AED 16 billion Main Roads Development Plan.
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How we reported this
The Trade Centre Roundabout Improvement Project will replace the existing roundabout near Downtown Dubai and DIFC with a signalized junction and five new bridges. The change is projected to reduce delays from 12 minutes to 90 seconds by 2026. A separate 2.1 km Al Safa Street tunnel will provide direct access from Sheikh Zayed Road to City Walk, which sits adjacent to Downtown Dubai, and is expected to cut travel time from 20 minutes to 2 minutes.
Downtown Dubai is identified as a key upgrade zone in the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which also covers Bur Dubai, Business Bay and Dubai Marina. The RTA’s AED 16 billion Main Roads Development Plan running from 2024 to 2027 includes 22 major projects, among them upgrades to Al Mustaqbal Street and the Trade Centre Roundabout that serve the Downtown Dubai area.
Changes for local travel and parking
Residents who commute through the Trade Centre Roundabout or use routes from Sheikh Zayed Road to City Walk stand to experience shorter journey times once the projects are complete. The new tunnel and junction alterations are designed to ease movement in and out of the high-density commercial zone that includes Downtown Dubai.
Separate parking regulations took effect in Downtown Dubai on February 1, 2024. These rules introduce stricter time limits and fee structures aimed at lowering congestion in commercial areas where residents live and work.
Next steps in the development plan
The RTA plan continues through 2027 with further work on the listed road corridors. Downtown Dubai residents will continue to see construction activity tied to the roundabout replacement and tunnel as the projects move forward under the existing schedule.
These infrastructure measures form part of the broader Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan focus on urban area improvements in the listed zones. The government states the projects will address current delays and parking pressure in the Downtown Dubai vicinity.